Chapter 1352: The Perilous Depths of the Human Heart
Chapter 1352: The Perilous Depths of the Human Heart
Translator: CinderTL
"Gu Huang initially showered Ying Wu with affection, but after repeated rejections, he realized that simple courtship wouldn’t sway her. He then began cultivating diligently, hoping to impress her with his cultivation prowess. Gu Huang possessed exceptional talent and unwavering dedication, breaking through to the Void Refinement Stage before the age of seven hundred."
"Confident in his cultivation achievements, Gu Huang once again proposed marriage to Ying Wu. Despite her still being only at the Divine Transformation Stage, she vehemently refused him. Consumed by unrequited love, Gu Huang harbored resentment. Unable to win her heart, he resolved to force her hand. He appealed to the Pavilion Master of Myriad Swords Pavilion."
"The Pavilion Master, indifferent to the romantic affairs of juniors, granted Gu Huang’s request, reasoning that Gu Huang was a rare genius. Without consulting Ying Wu, he issued an Imperial Edict in the sect’s name, ordering her to become Gu Huang’s dao companion within three days. The announcement sent shockwaves through the sect, sparking fervent discussions and making Gu Huang the envy of many. However, upon learning of this, Ying Wu declared defiantly: ’Even if it means my death, I will never marry Gu Huang!’"
"The Pavilion Master was displeased to learn that Ying Wu had defied his Imperial Edict. However, matters of love and marriage ultimately depend on mutual consent. Forcing a disciple to commit suicide over such a matter would undoubtedly tarnish the Myriad Swords Pavilion’s reputation. The ’marriage in three days’ plan had to be abandoned, but the Pavilion Master never rescinded the edict, leaving the matter unresolved."
"Thus, Ying Wu remained Gu Huang’s nominal dao companion, though the marriage never took place. This became an obsession for Gu Huang. Even after thousands of years, he still sought to marry Ying Wu. Perhaps he no longer harbored any affection for her, but Ying Wu’s declaration, ’I’d rather die than marry him,’ had utterly humiliated him, turning him from an object of envy into a laughingstock. What Gu Huang now sought was no longer a marriage, but Ying Wu’s submission."
"From that day forward, Gu Huang devoted himself even more fervently to cultivation. Alas, fate rarely aligns with human desires. As time passed, Ying Wu’s cultivation surpassed his, her strength becoming unfathomable. Within the Body Integration Stage, she was virtually unmatched. With no Great Ascension Stage cultivators present, Ying Wu stood as the supreme powerhouse in the Southern Nether Continent. Gu Huang’s ambitions grew increasingly unattainable."
After hearing Ke Zheng’s words, Song Wen couldn’t help but think, "Love and romance truly lead to ruin."
Immediately, a sinister thought surfaced in his mind.
"If I could make Ying Wu willingly submit to me, wouldn’t that cause her even greater agony than killing Gu Huang?"
Song Wen shook his head, dismissing the idle thought, and said, "I have no interest in the affairs between Gu Huang and Ying Wu. I only want to know how to contact her."
Ke Zheng replied, "Senior, you could write a letter and entrust it to me. I will personally deliver it to Ying Wu without altering a single word."
Song Wen’s brow furrowed slightly. Ke Zheng was desperately trying to save his life.
Letting Ke Zheng return was out of the question; it would only complicate matters.
"Just tell me Ying Wu’s whereabouts—places she frequents or people she associates with. How I contact her is none of your concern."
Ke Zheng looked troubled. "Senior, Ying Wu has secluded herself on Sword Offering Mountain within the sect for years, rarely venturing out. Aside from her subordinates, few others ever see her. Even the other Body Integration Stage cultivators in the sect have little interaction with her."
Hearing this, Song Wen was momentarily stumped.
Ke Zheng’s words aligned with Ying Wu’s cold and detached nature, showing no signs of falsehood.
"In that case, you’re of no further use to me. But since you’ve confessed so much, I’ll grant you a swift end."
They were now tens of thousands of miles from Thousand Blades City. It was time to act.
Ke Zheng panicked, his voice rising into a shrill scream.
"Gou Jun, you’ve broken your word! You promised to spare my life if I answered truthfully!"
The corner of Song Wen’s lips curled into a cold smile.
"In your next life, should you be reborn as human, remember this: your life must be in your own hands. Never entrust it to the fleeting mercy of others, nor rely on the favor of the heavens. The human heart is treacherous, and the Heavenly Dao is indifferent. Only you can be trusted!"
As he spoke, the tip of the Blood-colored Tentacle suddenly split open, like a venomous snake striking its prey. It lunged at Ke Zheng’s head.
"No... you can’t kill me! Your soul lamp..."
Ke Zheng’s voice, filled with utter terror, was abruptly cut off.
Watching the Blood Python devour Ke Zheng, Song Wen murmured to himself.
"Oh, right, I forgot. You probably won’t get another chance at reincarnation."
Suddenly remembering something, Song Wen commanded the Blood Python to writhe. A branch split off, enveloping a fist-sized ball of spiritual light, and delivered it before him.
This spiritual light contained Ke Zheng’s divine soul.
On a whim, Song Wen decided to search Ke Zheng’s soul, hoping to extract any useful information from his memories.
After the soul search, Song Wen’s expression turned peculiar.
Ke Zheng’s cultivation realm was far lower than his own, resulting in a flood of fragmented memories. Among them were details about Ying Wu.
As Ke Zheng had claimed, Ying Wu’s cultivation cave was indeed located on Sword Offering Mountain within the Myriad Swords Pavilion. However, she rarely cultivated there. Instead, she spent most of her time at a place called Great Communication Lake.
This Great Communication Lake wasn’t within the Myriad Swords Pavilion at all, but tens of thousands of miles away, far beyond its borders.
While Sword Offering Mountain was vast, Ying Wu’s fondness for raising and manipulating various demon beasts meant that a mere mountain couldn’t contain her activities.
In other words, Song Wen had been deceived by Ke Zheng.
Ke Zheng had lied to Song Wen, hoping to persuade him to let him go. Based on common sense, Song Wen hadn’t detected anything suspicious in Ke Zheng’s words.
"Truly, the human heart is treacherous!" Song Wen muttered to himself.
After devouring Ke Zheng’s divine soul and claiming his storage ring and Giant Flying Ship, Song Wen soared into the sky, swiftly departing from that realm.
Before long, he appeared above Great Communication Lake.
The lake stretched vast and misty, its pale, ghost-like fog swirling above the water’s surface, obscuring its true depths.
The wind whistling across the lake sounded like the wails of Fierce Ghosts, as if something lurked beneath the eerie green waters, peering out at every living creature nearby.
Song Wen’s gaze pierced through the layers of fog, settling on a Stone Island.
The island, less than a hundred miles in circumference, lay shrouded in deathly stillness—the only landmass in the vast lake.
"Fellow Daoist Ying Wu," Song Wen called out, his voice carrying across the water. "I come unannounced with a modest gift that I believe will pique your interest."
With a flick of his wrist, a jade slip shot forth, arcing toward the island.
Clang!
A piercing, sword-like sound rang out.
A black vine suddenly lashed out from the island, snaring the jade slip.
The vine swiftly retracted, disappearing into the island’s rocky crevices.
After about a dozen breaths, a slender figure emerged from the island, appearing before Song Wen.
It was Ying Wu.
Her fingers caressed the jade slip, her eyes burning with starlight as she gazed intently at Song Wen, as if finally meeting a kindred spirit she had long yearned for.
"Did you personally record the contents of this jade slip?"
(End of the Chapter)
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